Xu Dan narrowed his eyes. The mutant's genes had slightly altered the appearance of the saber-toothed tiger — a thick coat of beast-like hair covered him, and a pair of long canines jutted from his mouth. Even his vocal cords seemed genetically modified; he didn't speak clearly, but could always let out a terrifying tiger roar.
This was the saber-toothed tiger.
Xu Dan had only provided the combat system for the virtual training room. The battle data itself came directly from the X-Men database, meaning he had no prior knowledge of the tiger's actual strength.
He wanted to gauge his own power against beings of the Marvel Universe. And for that, he had to face the saber-toothed tiger head-on.
"Boom!!"
Their fists collided. The tiger's hand, almost claw-like, struck with immense force. The moment Xu Dan felt it, a wave of raw power surged through him.
So this is how strong the saber-toothed tiger is… he realized instantly.
Judging by the force of that pounce, the mutant's strength was at least twice his own. Xu Dan made a mental note: after returning, serious strength training was a must. Now that he had the capital, it was time to improve his body as well.
Using the tiger's momentum, he leapt backward, covering roughly nine meters in an instant. Wiping the nonexistent sweat from his brow, Xu Dan extended his right hand. Slowly, photons coalesced into a forged steel blade — a weapon of modern technology.
An outsider might have mistaken this for some mystical cultivation power. But it was purely technological.
Within the virtual combat system, Xu Dan had created an arsenal of weapons for mutants who needed them. Otherwise, some might enter wielding real guns or RPGs. For now, he only needed a sword.
Swordsmanship was his strongest skill. Although he had exchanged points for many abilities, only the sword art had progressed rapidly. Magic, like that from Warcraft, remained a tool — he could use it, but could not yet comprehend its true essence. Azeroth's magic was strong, but Earth lacked the same ambient power. Swordsmanship, however, could be mastered through practice and understanding.
Gripping the familiar forged steel blade, Xu Dan fixed his gaze on the saber-toothed tiger.
"Whoosh!!"
The tiger roared and charged again. But this time, Xu Dan was prepared. He had already studied the mutant's attack patterns in their first confrontation. Despite its raw strength, the tiger's fighting style was crude — a skilled opponent could exploit its weaknesses.
"Whoosh!!"
The tiger swung its claw, aiming to tear Xu Dan apart.
Xu Dan moved lightly to the side, the tip of the tiger's claws grazing past him — in the game, this would be called a micro-movement; in reality, it meant the tiger was about to be defeated.
The forged steel blade sliced through the air, leaving a silver streak. It struck the tiger's right rib with a sharp crack. The skin split under the force, and despite the mutant's toughness, the sword cut deep. Even genetically enhanced strength and animalistic ferocity couldn't prevent injury from this blade.
Xu Dan's strikes grew faster, more precise. Yet the saber-toothed tiger seemed unfazed. The ten-centimeter wound healed instantly, and it roared, advancing with relentless fury.
Xu Dan wasn't foolish enough to block the frontal assault again. He swung his blade, pushed off the ground, and rapidly retreated, keeping the tiger in sight.
This mutant was reckless — strong, fearless, but predictable. One misstep, and he would fall.
Xu Dan gritted his teeth. What an iron-willed brute.
The blade in his hand surged once more. A gleam flashed in his eyes.
[Live Kill – Sixteen Nights Moon Hua!]
Borrowed from his King of Fighters skillset, the strike was a lethal combination. Light converged along his sword, slicing through the battlefield with a chilling, cold intent.
"Whoosh!!"
The tiger's torso split from chest to lower abdomen. Pain finally registered on the mutant's face, and it roared in anger — a deafening sound that echoed like a mythical Lion Roar Gong.
Xu Dan braced himself, generating protective energy around his ears. This was the same energy cultivated from Warcraft skills, a mix of fighting qi and mana, necessary to activate his techniques.
"Let me hear you roar!"
Swift Step! Mirror Image!
Xu Dan vanished from the tiger's sight. The Swift Step's stealth and speed made him invisible — a skill purchased with massive points. The saber-toothed tiger could not detect him.
Silently, Xu Dan closed the distance. One final attack remained — the fatal blow.
The tiger sensed danger behind it. Too late.
The steel blade, brimming with killing intent, stabbed directly toward its heart.
"Whoosh!!"
A clean, effortless strike — as simple as slicing tofu.